Rethinking the Enlightenment | Historian Aviva Chomsky

This book offers a dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging fundamental assumptions about social evolution, the development of agriculture, cities, the state, democracy, and inequality. Graeber and Wengrow argue that traditional theories of human history, such as those posited by Hobbes and Rousseau, are not supported by anthropological or archaeological evidence. Instead, they show that humans have lived in large, complex, but decentralized societies for millennia, often without ruling elites or hierarchical systems. The authors draw on extensive research in archaeology and anthropology to reveal a history that is more varied and hopeful than previously assumed, emphasizing human experimentation with different social arrangements and the potential for new forms of freedom and societal organization.

In this seminal work, Eric Williams contends that slavery played a crucial role in the rise of capitalism and the British Empire. He argues that the wealth generated from the slave trade and slavery fueled British industrial development, and that racism was a consequence of slavery rather than its cause. The book refutes traditional ideas of economic and moral progress, emphasizing the economic motivations behind the abolition of slavery and highlighting the agency of the enslaved in their own liberation. Williams's study is based on extensive historical research, including parliamentary debates, merchants’ papers, and abolitionist documents, and has had a profound impact on the scholarship of slavery and capitalism[1][4][5].

In 'Before European Hegemony,' Janet L. Abu-Lughod argues against the assumption that European dominance in the 16th century was inevitable. She examines the global economy between the 13th and 14th centuries, highlighting the advanced economic systems of the Middle East and Asia during this period. The book emphasizes the role of the Mongol empire in facilitating safe and reliable trade links across Eurasia and the Indian Ocean, and it challenges the Eurocentric theories of European uniqueness. Abu-Lughod's work provides a comprehensive picture of the Eurasian world system, showing that no single hegemon existed and that economies developed around various regional cores rather than hierarchical relationships[1][4][5].

In 'Open Veins of Latin America', Eduardo Galeano explores the history of Latin America through the lens of colonialism, imperialism, and dependency theory. He argues that the region's underdevelopment is a result of centuries of exploitation by European and North American powers. The book is a powerful critique of capitalism and its effects on Latin America, weaving historical facts with vivid imagery to create a compelling narrative.